Born to Cuban exiles, Henry Barrial is originally from Miami. Received a B.A. in Psychology, but it was at university where he began acting for the first time. Upon moving to Los Angeles he began studying acting, but soon found that directing and writing were more his passion. Using the improvisational techniques of the Meisner training he studied in LA to make his first two (2) films, Henry directed a short entitled The Lonelys, which won several top awards. Then in 2000 Barrial directed his first feature, the ultra low-budget ($3,000) Some Body.
Some Body premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in Dramatic Competition. Barrial has gone on to direct such award-winning films as PIG (2011) winner of 7 Festival Best Sci-Fi feature awards, The House That Jack Built (2013) starring Melissa Fumero and DriverX (2017) starring Patrick Fabian. Murder and Cocktails (2023) is Barrial’s 6th feature film.
indieactivity: How would you describe your work as a director?
Henry Barrial (HB): I’ve always been an actor’s director who was very improvisational on set to one that mashes together both that actor’s sensibility with a deep understanding of visual storytelling. I would now describe myself as a well-rounded director who throws himself into the process of making a film with a firm grasp on all the departments a movie employs in order to tell the story in its own most powerful way.
The Official Trailer for Murder and Cocktails
How did you get into directing?
Henry Barrial (HB): The two events made me want to be a director. 1) Sitting in a Meisner acting class and watching actors trying to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances and feeling that I could help actors be truthful and spontaneous. 2) Saw Breaking the Waves when it premiered one the big screen. It felt like a movie I wanted to make.
How do you choose a project to direct?
Henry Barrial (HB): If I like the script and feel I can bring something to it no other director can.
Do you often take courses to increase your craft?
Henry Barrial (HB): I’m attended a writing workshop back in February. So, yes!
Why would you choose an actor, writer, or producer? What do you look for?
Henry Barrial (HB): I try to choose an actor because they’re “perfect” for the role. Casting is the most important aspect of almost any production. If you make a mistake, your film may not be able to recover from it.
When you are offered a project, what things do you put in place to deliver a good job?
Henry Barrial (HB): I plan every set up and have developed a system for using images that I turn into drawings that I use on the day of production to guide me. The irony is, the more pre-planning I do, the more comfortable I am deviating from that plan.
Briefly explain your latest work?
Henry Barrial (HB): It’s a modern day “Thin Man” movie. If you want to see some great pre WWII acting, watch Myrna Loy and William Powell in that series of films. I wanted to capture that same spirit between a modern married couple that loved each other deeply and never took life too seriously. The Thin Man movies are murder mysteries that teach us how to live life. That’s what Murder & Cocktails is about for me. And Ron Jackson’s screenplay really captured that.
Explain key challenges on your last film?
Henry Barrial (HB): There are many key creative decisions on a film, but one that comes to mind was how to treat the WEB CAMS. The position I took as the Director was that at any point in Nick & Lana’s condo (where we spend most of the story) we could be in the Web Cam point of view. I made the choice that (until the last party scene) the camera would NOT be handheld. That way each angle could be the Web Cam. Until the party scene in which I lifted that rule out. I wanted the party scene to be the place in the story where all the rules would be thrown out (as Nick does in the party). I also felt we needed to establish the WebCams and what they looked like and then not show them anymore. Establish there are multiple WebCams and leave it there. Not over-complicating. I wanted the film to look as beautiful and glamorous as possible and John De Fazio (DP) did a great job of capturing that.
What ‘thing/situation’ helps you during production?
Henry Barrial (HB): Being prepared.
how can filmmakers finance their projects?
Henry Barrial (HB): By making films that are fully realized.
What do you want from an actor during a production?
Henry Barrial (HB): Know their lines and live truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Live each take like it’s the first time.
How do you prefer to work with a producer during a production?
Henry Barrial (HB): Creatively. I like to go through every aspect of the film with them.
Who is your favorite director?
Henry Barrial (HB): Kieslowski
Why?
Henry Barrial (HB): He made magic.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Henry Barrial. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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